Definitions
(noun)
prefecture; province; state
Etymology
Depicts an area of dry land in the middle of a river.
About
The character "州" originated from a pictographic representation of islands or sandbars within a river, which is still suggested by its structure of three dots interspersed with vertical strokes, conveying the idea of land segments divided by water. Its earliest meaning referred specifically to these riverine landforms, but over centuries, the term was adopted to designate administrative divisions, such as the legendary nine provinces in ancient Chinese geography. This evolution from a concrete geographical feature to an abstract political unit illustrates how the character's application shifted while its graphical form remained consistent, eventually settling as a term for state or prefecture-level jurisdictions in modern usage.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我住在加州。
广州天气很热。
苏州园林很美丽。
杭州以西湖闻名。
这个州有很多人口。
他来自德克萨斯州。
美国有五十个州。
州政府发布了新政策。